all road trips contain hail

Whew! So I left Denver this morning and rode thru Wyoming. It was real nice - sunny but with a cloud covering the whole way. It was actually alittle cold!


Going through Cheyenne, I didn't realize it was fair time. They call it Frontier Days. I saw the signs for it but thought perhaps that was normal for that town - to have it everyday of the year. Had I known it was their fair, I would have spent a day there to hangout... live music, rodeo, games - all fun stuff I haven't gone to in a while. I'll have to return there sometime and check it out properly.


Although I missed seeing all the fair stuff I did manage to get my own rodeo ride. Whew! There was construction on the interstate and the roads were uneven. I'd see a sign that would say 'bump' and slow down but there would be no bumps in the road. Then a few minutes down the road after I would think it would be safe to speed up, I get the bump of my life... I almost got bucked off my bike a couple of times. Kinda fun, bad on the back but at least the vehicle behind me stopped tailgating.


I arrived in Idaho Falls, Idaho and was heading out to Rexburg where I'd be staying the night when all of a sudden a rain storm hit. I've driven through tornado weather before and that's what it felt like. It got super cold all of a sudden, the wind actually blew me off the road! There was rain and hail. I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of me so I pulled to the shoulder of the road. Even the car drivers couldn't see and of course, I almost got hit on the shoulder. People were driving all over the road. After a majority of the traffic passed me by, I braved it back on the road and found cover at a gas station. That was a tough and drenching 45 minute break!

I didn't know what kind of pictures to take of Wyoming since I spent last summer in the Tetons and have a large amount of Wyoming pictures.

I saw this sign of a buffalo in the distance. It's on the border of Colorado and Wyoming. Course, it doesn't do Wyoming any justice but it was the only thing I could think of at the time for a picture.

Montana/ Idaho border

Washington - welcome home to cornfields.

denver

Made it to Denver. It was a really nice long ride with great weather. Saw lots of bikers on the road and some really good scenery. The air is a bit thinner in Colorado due to the elevation. I stopped a few times for fuel and pictures and thought I was going to be stranded. After shutting the bike off, I had a difficult time re-starting. Got a bit nervous and stopped pulling over.






Raton Pass, Colorado

amarillo

I left Austin this morning and have been trying to outride the rain throughout the day. For the most part, the ride was really nice. I even got sunburned arms! I sunblocked my face but for some reason, I forgot my arms. I arranged to take a different route returning to Washington going through little parts of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

When I lived in Texas before I went on a bike trip through the middle of Texas. There's a town called Brady that is the geographical center of Texas. I thought I'd pass through there as with Amarillo to see the Cadillac Ranch.

During one part of Texas, I kind of zoned out, taking in the scenery and forgot a gas stop. I saw some civilization and construction and just totally forgot to refill the tank. You can sure bet 30 miles later, I was wishing there was a gas station close by. I really thought I'd be pushing the bike... and dreading it - those hills would have been really tough to be pushing that metal chunk! The gauge was in the red and I had no idea where I was or how close the next town would be. Luckily, remembering my almost running out of gas ordeal last time on my trip to Texas, I slowed down from 80 to 60mph and just kept going, going, going, going. 15 miles later, there was a town named Post - out of nowhere, it just popped up. Then I realized I was further along the route than I thought with a record of 126 miles for the tank. Way cool!

In between the sun, the rain was present with dark clouds and lightning in the distance. It would rain but the sun would be out. Crazy! By the time, I would give in, pull over and put on my rain gear the rain would stop. After the 2nd time, I told myself I would just ride through the rain since I was about an hour to my destination. And that 3rd time, was the most rain I went through all day. After about 3 miles I grudgingly decided to pulled over. It got alittle cold so I applied my rain gear and after a mile it cleared up and was hot and sunny. With the suit on, it was like a sauna! But I rode on with only 30 miles to go. Whew!

I made it to Amarillo and took my rain suit off! Ahhhh. Even though it was hot out, it felt like air conditioning! So I'm spending the night in Amarillo, leaving in the morning for Denver.

Brady, the heart of Texas.

Cadillac Ranch in the background with my bike.

I finally got to go to the Cadillac Ranch! That was partially the reason I rode this route. I've been wanting to see it in person for a long time.

life changes in an instant

Wow, this past week has been a blur. Partly because I was bored and ended up getting a second job. And partly because of family. With this second job, I've been working 13-15 hour days which certainly make a long day although time passes quickly since I just work, sleep and repeat the process.

Family issues... pretty much everyone knows I stopped the seasonal trail to save up to return to school. In the meantime, I would enjoy the warm weather and ride my bike all over Texas. It has kind of been the way I planned. Texas is warm and I do ride my bike although I did not account for all the rain and stormy weather. Usually by now the lake has dried up and green grass, brown from the heat and drought. This year is unusually wet for Texas, and doesn't make good riding weather but there have been some real good rides.

To sum it all up. I got a job offer... and I'm moving.

ROAD TRIP!!! Heck yeah - another cross country trip! Wow, this is totally way cool to be riding my bike so much. I'm so very excited! After being neglected so much these past couple of years, I think my bike is just as happy! More mileage = more fun.

This time back to Washington state to hang with the parents (and work to death). My thoughts were I'll be working the same hours but a different location. The parents need help so here we go... I'm moving Tuesday. I should be in Washington by this Friday if all goes well. I'll be taking in another portion of the US by bike and sticking to the main interstate. I will stop and see some friends along the way and perhaps take some cool pictures so it's all in great fun.

Life in an instant. Whew! Takes you by surprise sometimes.

I'll be back to Texas, but I'm really not sure when.